The new Bishop of Hull will be the Reverend Canon Alison White, the Archbishop of York Dr John Sentamu has announced. Reverend White is currently priest-in-charge of Riding Mill in the Diocese of Newcastle. Dr Sentamu said: “This is a joyous day. I am delighted to be welcoming Alison as the next Bishop of Hull.”

The Rev Canon White said: “In 2010, I was privileged to be invited to take part in the York Diocesan Clergy Conference where I got a profound sense of a Diocese with faith and hope.
“I know that there is a real vision to be generous churches making and nurturing disciples and can’t wait to be part of loving God and growing the Church in this great part of Yorkshire.”

The Church of England’s first woman bishop was The Rt Rev Libby Lane, who consecrated as the eighth Bishop of Stockport at York Minster in January. The Rev Canon White replaces the Right Rev Richard Frith, who became Bishop of Hereford in November 2014.
She will be consecrated at York Minster on 3 July.

The 58-year-old became a priest in 1994 and has served in Durham, Sheffield, Peterborough and Newcastle. She is married to Bishop Frank White, Assistant Bishop of Newcastle. The couple have family in England and South Africa.

The Church’s General Synod formally approved plans in November to ordain women bishops after years of division and in the face of stiff opposition.

Comment

Wouldn’t it be lovely to see the Catholic Church and Islam embracing such an idea of equality and recognition of women in religion and spirituality rather than displaying the usual discriminatory and many would argue misogynistic attitudes towards them.